Why is the eccentricity of a catenary equal to sqrt(2)?












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I understand that eccentricity defines how circular a conic section is... but a catenary isn't a conic section - so why is its eccentricity equal to that of a rectangular hyperbola: $sqrt 2$ ? How does it have an eccentricity in the first place?
Are there other figures that aren't conics that still has an eccentricity?










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  • $begingroup$
    Where did you read about this eccentricity?
    $endgroup$
    – Aretino
    Jan 23 at 16:28










  • $begingroup$
    I read about this eccentricity here: fxsolver.com/browse/formulas/Catenary+curve
    $endgroup$
    – Maxim Winter
    Jan 24 at 6:02
















0












$begingroup$


I understand that eccentricity defines how circular a conic section is... but a catenary isn't a conic section - so why is its eccentricity equal to that of a rectangular hyperbola: $sqrt 2$ ? How does it have an eccentricity in the first place?
Are there other figures that aren't conics that still has an eccentricity?










share|cite|improve this question









$endgroup$












  • $begingroup$
    Where did you read about this eccentricity?
    $endgroup$
    – Aretino
    Jan 23 at 16:28










  • $begingroup$
    I read about this eccentricity here: fxsolver.com/browse/formulas/Catenary+curve
    $endgroup$
    – Maxim Winter
    Jan 24 at 6:02














0












0








0


1



$begingroup$


I understand that eccentricity defines how circular a conic section is... but a catenary isn't a conic section - so why is its eccentricity equal to that of a rectangular hyperbola: $sqrt 2$ ? How does it have an eccentricity in the first place?
Are there other figures that aren't conics that still has an eccentricity?










share|cite|improve this question









$endgroup$




I understand that eccentricity defines how circular a conic section is... but a catenary isn't a conic section - so why is its eccentricity equal to that of a rectangular hyperbola: $sqrt 2$ ? How does it have an eccentricity in the first place?
Are there other figures that aren't conics that still has an eccentricity?







algebraic-geometry conic-sections






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share|cite|improve this question










asked Jan 23 at 5:39









Maxim WinterMaxim Winter

1




1












  • $begingroup$
    Where did you read about this eccentricity?
    $endgroup$
    – Aretino
    Jan 23 at 16:28










  • $begingroup$
    I read about this eccentricity here: fxsolver.com/browse/formulas/Catenary+curve
    $endgroup$
    – Maxim Winter
    Jan 24 at 6:02


















  • $begingroup$
    Where did you read about this eccentricity?
    $endgroup$
    – Aretino
    Jan 23 at 16:28










  • $begingroup$
    I read about this eccentricity here: fxsolver.com/browse/formulas/Catenary+curve
    $endgroup$
    – Maxim Winter
    Jan 24 at 6:02
















$begingroup$
Where did you read about this eccentricity?
$endgroup$
– Aretino
Jan 23 at 16:28




$begingroup$
Where did you read about this eccentricity?
$endgroup$
– Aretino
Jan 23 at 16:28












$begingroup$
I read about this eccentricity here: fxsolver.com/browse/formulas/Catenary+curve
$endgroup$
– Maxim Winter
Jan 24 at 6:02




$begingroup$
I read about this eccentricity here: fxsolver.com/browse/formulas/Catenary+curve
$endgroup$
– Maxim Winter
Jan 24 at 6:02










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